DEF Grants, Scholarships and Applications
Hints for Applying
BE SPECIFIC! If you need things to accomplish your idea, tell us exactly what you have in mind and how it will help you reach your goal:
- What kind of materials?
- What series of literature?
- What destination(s)?
- What kind of equipment?
PREPARE A REALISTIC BUDGET FOR YOUR IDEA
- Do your homework on proposal.
- Get the best estimates you can on what ideas will cost.
- Provide clarity of costs.
- Be sure your idea is not something:
- The Board of Education will fund.
- Your school budget covers.
- Covered by professional learning.
SELECT WHICH GRANT FOR WHICH YOU WILL APPLY. Pay attention to the purpose of each grant and make sure that your application fits that purpose.
FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH
- How will your ideas engage students with interesting, challenging and satisfying work?
- It is not necessary to serve a large number of children to have a good proposal.
- It helps to show what group(s) may benefit
GIVE YOUR PROJECT A SHORT, EASY-TO-IDENTIFY TITLE A title that quickly summarizes your idea helps the Selection Committee. It also helps focus on the purpose of your project.
NAME SOMEONE WE CAN CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL DEF Selection Committees may need to contact people for more information in the midst of a meeting. Help them reach you!
Tom Jones Educator of the Year Award
Nominations are now being accepted for the Tom Jones Educator of the Year award sponsored by the Dalton Education Foundation. The award is given every year to an educator in Dalton Public Schools who has made significant contributions to the education of children in Dalton and who symbolizes excellence in teaching.
The endowed award is named in memory of Tom Jones, a prominent Dalton businessman who served on the Dalton Board of Education for 26 years and was chairman from 1967 to 1986. The award was started in 1987. Jones, who was the co-founder of J&J Industries, was a native of Dalton and a product of Dalton Public Schools. He is fondly remembered as an avid supporter for Dalton and the school district.
Karen Lightbody Kirkman Piano/Music Scholarship
Click Here to Complete an Application
Purpose – The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and enable promising piano and other instrument students in the Dalton Public Schools to pursue further music studies and to use that knowledge and those talents for the benefit of the community.
KAREN LIGHTBODY KIRKMAN, a very talented pianist and 1962 graduate of Dalton High School, donated her abilities countless times to our community through school, church, and other civic performances and accompaniment for many years. It was her wish that this scholarship help others to “take her place” by giving back to their communities through the gift of their musical talents. The family has chosen to expand the award to include piano and other instruments on an alternating year basis, one year in piano and the next year for any other instrument. This year, the award will be given in the area of piano. The award is need based and the funds go directly to pay for continued musical lessons.
Selection Process – The selection process consists of three steps: application, screening, and selection:
Application – The application consists of basic biographical information; a resume of the student’s musical study, performances, and experience; a repertoire list of what the student has played; a student questionnaire in which the student commits to use his/her talents for the community; two letters of recommendation regarding the student’s musical abilities and experience from two non-family members, including at least one from a Fine Arts Professional (one who spends at least fifty percent of his/her working hours teaching or performing in the arts); and an audition tape of the student performing two musical selections (at least one selection should be classical musical).
Screening – A screening committee will review all parts of the application and select no more than five finalists for the scholarship
Selection – Finalists will be expected to play two selections (can be the same or different from those submitted with application) for the judges in a closed audition environment. The judges will conduct a brief interview of each finalist during the audition timeslot.
Funding awarded to the winners will be used for continued music lessons and will be paid directly to the music instructor.
Timeline:
Application Deadline – Tuesday, August 15
Announce Finalists – Tuesday, August 22
Performance Auditions – Tuesday, September 12
Winner Announcement – Friday, September 15
Dale Cook Support Staff of the Year Award
Do you know a student support staff member in Dalton Public Schools who should be recognized for their hard work and passion for working in our schools to improve the opportunity for student learning by making 'school' a better place for our students?
Nominations are now being accepted for the Dale Cook Support Educator of the Year Award, which is sponsored by the Dalton Education Foundation, friends, and the family of Ms. Cook. This is a new award and will be given every year to a student support staff member in Dalton Public Schools who has made significant contributions to the educational opportunity of children in Dalton through their efforts to make the school a warm, safe, and caring place to learn. Student Support Staff member is defined as a non-certificated, non-classroom position at either the school or district level.
Click here for the nomination form!
These grants were awarded to Dalton Public Schools’ staff for innovative instructional designs so that educators are provided resources not otherwise available to them. Congratulations to each of the individuals/teams who were awarded these grants.
2021-22 Grants Awarded
| Recipient: | School: | Grant: | Funded By: |
| Clay Fissel | Roan | Native Songs | JM History Grant |
| Stephanie Montijo | Westwood | Hear Ye! Hear Ye! | JM History Grant |
| Jazmin Hernandez | Brookwood | Making History Come Alive | JM History Grant |
| Peter Biermanns | Brookwood | German Marionatte Theatre | DEF Fundraiser |
| Paige Watts | The Dalton Academy | The Translation Academy | Wish List Grant |
| Julie Fischer | Brookwood | Critical Thinking Game Craze | DEF Fundraiser |
| Julie Fischer | Brookwood | Practical Pedometers | DEF Fundraiser |
| Annette Buckner | Dalton High School | Fish to Grow Food | DEF Fundraiser |
| Amber Dean | Dalton High | Guarding the Performing Arts | Wish List Grant |
| Ava Wyatt | Brookwood | Meine Neuen deutschen Freunde | DEF Fundraiser |
| Josef Damasch | City Park | The River Mural | DEF Fundraiser & Rowena Martin Innovation Teaching |
| Melanie Morgan | Blue Ridge | Brain Ball | DEF Fundraiser |
| Julius Garrod | Blue Ridge | Inside, Outside, Upside Down | DEF Fundraiser |
| Sara Webb | Hammond Creek Middle | HCMS Band Composition Commission | DEF Fundraiser |
| Liz Forberger | City Park | Math in Motion | DEF Fundraiser |
| Christine Mullican | Elem. Deaf | Just Like Me | DEF Fundraiser |
| Claire Kyzer | Brookwood & Dalton High School | Cooking with Germany | DEF Fundraiser |
| Emily Jones | City Park | Empowering Through Embroidery | DEF Fundraiser |
| Elizabeth Gregory | Blue Ridge | Sensory Items to Support Positive Behavioral Outcomes | DEF Fundraiser |
| Jamie Gonzalez | Hammond Creek Middle | Celebrations Past and Present | DEF Fundraiser |
| Julie Spurling | Hammond Creek Middle | Hammond Creek Crafters for Wellness | DEF Fundraiser |
| Jessie Vazquez | City Park | Panter Performance | JM History Grant & DEF Fundraiser |
| Lisa Cabero | Brookwood | Sensory Room | DEF Fundraiser |
| Isamar Fraire | Brookwood | How Does Your Milkweed Grow? | Tom Jones Grant |
| Amanda Plavich | Hammond Creek Middle | Sonnenblick Author Visit Workshop | Tom Jones Grant |
| Alecia Halman | City Park | On Board for Learning Fun | Tom Jones Grant |
| Jennifer Barmore | Brookwood | State of the Ecosystem Podcast | Tom Jones Grant |
| Jessica Clark | Brookwood | Continuing Giving Bees a Chance | Tom Jones Grant |
| Shea MacFadden | Brookwood | AeroGarden Hydroponic Farm System | Tom Jones Grant |
| Kapua Keefe | City Park | GA Environmental Educational Coastal Trip | Tom Jones Grant |
| Malisa Pedro | Elem. Schools | Kid City Summer Art and Literacy Showcase | Tom Jones Grant |
| Elena Jas | Hammond Creek Middle | Soil vs. Water | Tom Jones Grant |
| Renee Mahan | Brookwood | Learning Through the Lens of Zan | Tom Jones Grant & DEF Fundraiser |
| Daisy Cardona-Kay | Dalton High & Dalton Junior High | Dalton Day of Percussion | Wish List Grant |
| Daisy Cardona-Kay | Dalton Junior High | DJHS Symphonic Band Camp | Wish List Grant |
| Daisy Cardona-Kay | Dalton Junior High | Do You Want to Help Build a Program | Wish List Grant & DEF Fundraiser |
| Idalia Paniagua | Westwood | Circle of Life | DEF Fundraiser |
| Erin Roberts | Park Creek | Fraction Frenzy | Tom Jones Grant |
| Erin Roberts & Caitlyn Woolridge | Park Creek | Meteorologists in the Making | DEF Fundraiser |
| Courtenay Cholovich | Hammond Creek Middle | Designing Curriculum 6-7 | Wish List Grant |
| Clay Fissel | Roan | Off to a Good Start | Wish List Grant |
| Melanie Morgan | Blue Ridge | Field Day Fun for Everyday Living | Wish List Grant |
| Clay Fissel | Roan | Musical Storytellers | Wish List Grant |
| Susan Barlow | Brookwood | Second Grade Space and Earth Resources | NGEMC |
| Brandi Moore & Shauna Sanders | Brookwood | Old School MathShark Facts | Wish List Grant |
| Sara Webb | Hammond Creek Middle | Never Board Learning Theory | Wish List Grant |
| Ward Satterfield | City Park | Choirchime Classroom Set | Wish List Grant |
| Cynthia Martinez | Blue Ridge | DDD - Dig Down Dirty | Wish List Grant |
| Martha Thomason | Westwood | Be You | Wish List Grant |
| Natalie Manget | Blue Ridge | Clay for Blue Ridge | Wish List Grant |
| Annette Rojas | Brookwood | Macroinvertebrates Matter | Wish List Grant |
| Kay Dean | Park Creek | Pulp Fiction | Wish List Grant |
| Ashley Brindle | Park Creek | Nailed It | Wish List Grant & NGEMC |
| Chanel Dean | Dalton Junior High | Jurassic Fun | Wish List Grant |
Charles E. Bowen, Sr. Leadership and Service Grant
| Grants | Funded Amount |
| DHS Student Council | $2,000 |
| DMS Arts in the Community | $1,000 |
| MIHS FBLA | $1,826 |
Hale-Bowen Academic Excellence in Teaching Award
Sandy Crow - $3,000